My mother and father used to read to me as well, and my aunt once signed me up for a childrens' book club: "Best in Childrens' Books." You could not have given me a better gift. I was probably 6 or 7, and each volume had a classic story (I remember The Pickwick Papers) and a kids' story as well as at least one fairy tale and a travelogue and some poetry. I always put my name in my books too. My father was a voracious reader almost to the day he died at age 97. When my nephew Robert was born I fully expected him to love reading too (he doesn't, but his younger brother does). One day as I passed the church I saw it was having a rummage sale so I went in and of course went straight to the books. I found a copy of an older "Hardy Boys" book. I did not think it was one we had at home that had belonged to my brother, so I bought it, took it home and shelved it with the others. Years passed and when I figured Robert was old enough I looked through the volumes and pulled this out to look at it. I saw a familiar name had been scrawled on the front and inside. Time had worn it down but when I made it out I saw that it was my own father's name -- he must have had this as a boy in the 1930s and lent it out to someone and it was tossed around for FIFTY YEARS, finally finding its way home again. (i used to read our encyclopedias too, and often the dictionary...I heard my mother brag about that to some people, LOL!)
I love that story of the book finding its way back to you! I also was a proud member of a book club - The Puffin club run by Puffin Books - I used to look forward to their monthly newsletter and book list. I still have the little diary they sent me as a free gift!
The doll book by Rumor Godden reminded me of a really good and strange series of children’s books . The first one is called The Mennyms by Sylvia Waugh. There are three others, but I haven’t read them. It’s about a group of dolls who live in London and are trying to live without anyone knowing that they’re dolls. I highly recommend it!
What a wonderful collection of books! I read The Box of Delights just last year for the first time, on a recommendation from another Booktuber, and enjoyed it very much. I used to read encyclopedias too, and also the dictionary. Couldn't keep my nose out of a book.
I was so hoping you'd have Bedknobs and Broomsticks by Mary Norton in your stash. My 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Webber, read it to us, and the memory of how I enjoyed it has stayed with me, 55 years now.
I have my beautiful copy of Oscar Wildes Fairy Tales given by an Uncle for my 2 nd or 3 Rd birthday. I'm 75 now and how I've loved that book for my five children and grandchild. Beautifully illustrated though sparingly. Published post,-War. Beautifully bound till my brother' s black Lab puppy chewed top of spine.
Not a children related post but just wanted to pop on and say thank you for recommending Graham Norton's novels in a previous vlog. I came across 'Holding' at my local library and really enjoyed it. His storytelling is marvellous and very down to earth not at all 'celebrity based' as I had feared it might be. Will have to look out for others of his in the future.
What a fine episode. I loved seeing your volumes with their period covers and illustrations. Especially enjoyed learning about 'Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.' Also, your description of rainy days with the encyclopedia took me right back to my preteen days and our well thumbed version of 'Compton's.' I particularly recall reading about a strange game called Cricket! Growing up in Texas as this was an exotic idea!
Ha ha! I suppose it is quite a strange game, and very English - but I grew up with it as my father loved it and taught me the rules, and I grew to love it too.
What a great nostalgic video! I grew up in an England and remember going on holiday to Denmark to see Andersons house! I do remember that my children’s books were all quite dark. I had 101 Dalmatian’s and was terrified of Creuella! I also love d Paddington ! I had all of those. Winnie the Pooh features heavily and Teddy Robinson! The Plantagenants, the Nesbit collection and Noel Streatfield and Ballet shoes, Sadlers Wells etc. my grandparents always gave us encyclopedias and dictionaries for birthdays… The Tell Me Why books were a staple as well. I too remember lying on the floor and paging through , trying to remember the different countries flags! It’s all so different now and it makes me feel old hahaaa ❤🇨🇦
A novelised version of Peter Pan was the first book I remember reading by myself and - i'm grateful to say - it helped to set me on a lifetime of reading pleasure. This was swiftly followed by Kipling's Just So Stories and The Jungle Book. As an 11 year old I recall being enthralled by Cue For Treason, a ripping adventure yarn by the now largely forgotten Geoffrey Trease which takes place initially in Elizabethan Cumberland and subsequently in the theatrical world of Tudor London. William Shakespeare no less is a featured character in the novel!
What a fun video! I think Tilly would like you to read those to her! she's so sweet. I'm so envious of your collection - my Dad would tossed everything out with every move - I can still envision a few of my favorite childhood possessions. But with six children - I can understand why he did. 😏 What a beautiful edition of Peter Pan you have! thank you!! 💐
I got to the bit when you talk about E. Nesbit and dashed to my bookcase where I have a very, very truncated section with my childhood books - mostly Puffins - and found my Five Children and It copy. I guess I must be a bit older as my copy was only 3/6 - a whole shilling cheaper! I recommend Auntie Robbo by Ann Scott-Moncrieff from the same era. My first memory of a rebellious adult - great fun and available on Amazon kindle for 99c.
Being an American I am not familiar with many of the books you mentioned but I can see how precious they are to you. One English writer I was fortunate to discover as a child was Lucy M. Boston. The website Fantastic Fiction says, “She is best known for her Green Knowe books, inspired by her home The Manor, one of the oldest permanently inhabited houses in Britain (her books were illustrated by her son Peter Boston…)”. I borrowed them from our Carnegie Public Library and read them many times to myself and again to my sister who was nine years younger. I’m happy to say they are still in print.